Now what? Vinyl top install

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Red383

Red383

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The weather was nice yesterday so I decided to install my vinyl top on the Dart. I started spraying the glue, laid one half down and started working out the wrinkles, I was having some problems getting the wrinkles out on the back half of the roof. Then got a phone call and had to leave. Since I had to leave, I pulled the top back off so it wouldn’t adhere permanently with wrinkles.

Can anyone help me with my next steps? I am using the DAP Landau Top and Trim, Contact Cement. The instructions say “Over-dried adhesive may be reactivated by applying another thin coat of adhesive.” But also says “up to 2 hours Open time” So I think I am going to have to remove all of the dried glue from the roof to start over, but what about the glue on the vinyl?

Does anyone have any experience with this? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

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Red383 said:
The weather was nice yesterday so I decided to install my vinyl top on the Dart. I started spraying the glue, laid one half down and started working out the wrinkles, I was having some problems getting the wrinkles out on the back half of the roof. Then got a phone call and had to leave. Since I had to leave, I pulled the top back off so it wouldn’t adhere permanently with wrinkles.

Can anyone help me with my next steps? I am using the DAP Landau Top and Trim, Contact Cement. The instructions say “Over-dried adhesive may be reactivated by applying another thin coat of adhesive.” But also says “up to 2 hours Open time” So I think I am going to have to remove all of the dried glue from the roof to start over, but what about the glue on the vinyl?

Does anyone have any experience with this? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

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I don't see an activator to be of any use after leaving it that long.

Here's a suggestion.

Take a small piece of scrap vinyl and coat it with the adhesive.

Take a small piece of metal and do the same.

Leave it for the same amount of time as you left your roof.

Try recoating the vinyl and the metal and see if they stick ok.

2nd suggestion:

Call them at 888-327-8477 and see if they can be of some help.

Cheers!
 
Good ideas, thanks.

Edit.
So I contacted DAP like Super-Cuda suggested (not sure why I didn't think about doing that, panic I guess)

They said I can add another thin layer of adhesive on top to re-stick the surfaces together, even if it has been days.

The "2 hour Open Time" is how long you have to stick the surfaces together before the adhesive is too dry to the point where you would need another layer of fresh adhesive

With that said, I guess I will follow his advice and give it another shot.

Wish me luck.
 
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Update... I had a couple hours last night, so I re-started my vinyl top install. I laid the top back out, centered it on the roof, and folded the driver's half of it over to the passenger side. I lightly resprayed the existing glue and started in the middle, then smoothed it out from center to the ends. I did about 6" at a time, spray, then roll over and smooth out. Once I got to the seam on the driver's side, I moved over and did the same on the passenger side out to the seam.

The other day I spayed the whole driver's side and tried to do it all at once, I has having issues getting the wrinkles out. doing it 6" at a time seemed to work good (for me anyway), and so far it all appears to be stuck pretty good.

Question for anyone who has done this before, do I glue the area below the rear window next, or do I finish the sides and sail panels first and glue below the windows last?

Thanks

TOP.jpg
 
Just wanted to follow up with an update. The center has been glued for a week or two now, and I finally got back to the project. I got my top completely installed. I did the driver side first, sprayed glue from the seam to the drip rail, and half way down the c-pillar, once I got that all laid down and tucked into the drip rail, I prayed the rest of the c-pillar down to the seam behind the rear window. after that was done I sprayed glue on the rest, and laid the vinyl below the rear window first, then the c-pillar and moved forward. It all turned out pretty nice, time will tell how it holds up.

The install of the drip rail chrome is almost harder than the vinyl install, especially where the seam is on the a pillar.

I'm happy with the results.

TOP 1.jpg


TOP 2.jpg
 
Red383 said:
Just wanted to follow up with an update. The center has been glued for a week or two now, and I finally got back to the project. I got my top completely installed. I did the driver side first, sprayed glue from the seam to the drip rail, and half way down the c-pillar, once I got that all laid down and tucked into the drip rail, I prayed the rest of the c-pillar down to the seam behind the rear window. after that was done I sprayed glue on the rest, and laid the vinyl below the rear window first, then the c-pillar and moved forward. It all turned out pretty nice, time will tell how it holds up.

The install of the drip rail chrome is almost harder than the vinyl install, especially where the seam is on the a pillar.

I'm happy with the results.

View attachment 1716246321

View attachment 1716246322
Click to expand...

Nice job!!
 
Getting ready to start ours, Yours looks great!!
Can you come help me with mine?!? .. Where did you get the glue and what kind?
 
Red383 said:
Just wanted to follow up with an update. The center has been glued for a week or two now, and I finally got back to the project. I got my top completely installed. I did the driver side first, sprayed glue from the seam to the drip rail, and half way down the c-pillar, once I got that all laid down and tucked into the drip rail, I prayed the rest of the c-pillar down to the seam behind the rear window. after that was done I sprayed glue on the rest, and laid the vinyl below the rear window first, then the c-pillar and moved forward. It all turned out pretty nice, time will tell how it holds up.

The install of the drip rail chrome is almost harder than the vinyl install, especially where the seam is on the a pillar.

I'm happy with the results.

View attachment 1716246321

View attachment 1716246322
Click to expand...
 
Looks great from here,,, I have to do mine soon…. What brand of vinyl top did you use? And what glue ?
 
VERY nice job. I have never done a vinyl roof, but I have seen it done on videos many times. Was this your first time? Have you ever done a headliner? I've done a few. It involves the same level of precision as the vinyl top, and marking a good centerline is imperative. I bet you would be good at it.
 
Looks great. If I learned one thing doing mine, it was to start all jobs on the passenger side! Learn there. :)
 
Stock71 said:
Getting ready to start ours, Yours looks great!!
Can you come help me with mine?!? .. Where did you get the glue and what kind?
Click to expand...
Maybe if you bring it to my house, I used the DAP Products Weldwood Landau Top & Trim Contact Adhesive with a cheap paint gun
44o gts dart said:
Looks great from here,,, I have to do mine soon…. What brand of vinyl top did you use? And what glue ?
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The Top was from Legendary Auto, and I used the DAP Products Weldwood Landau Top & Trim Contact Adhesive with a cheap paint gun from Harbor Freight
harrisonm said:
VERY nice job. I have never done a vinyl roof, but I have seen it done on videos many times. Was this your first time? Have you ever done a headliner? I've done a few. It involves the same level of precision as the vinyl top, and marking a good centerline is imperative. I bet you would be good at it.
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Yes, first time installing a vinyl top, I have never had a car with the "BOW" headliner, all of my cars always have had the hardboard headliners, which I am getting prepared to glue new fabric on, just cannot decide what material to use yet.
gdrill said:
Looks great. If I learned one thing doing mine, it was to start all jobs on the passenger side! Learn there. :)
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yes, that way you don't have to look at the mistakes everytime you get in the car ;-)
 
Red383 said:
not in my car!
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Red,
I am at about the same place as you were when you completed the first phase. How did you go about marking and trimming the edge where the stainless trim is attached? Did you wrap the vinyl material around the edge of the drip rail or trim it along the top edge of the rail? Did you re-use the original clips for the stainless trim or replace them? If you replaced the clips, I assume that you had to drill out the holes just rear of the quarter windows for the studs on the replacement clips, or did you find a source for the original style clips for those locations? Nice work and thanks for the help!

Jim
 
Great looking job,
I've been contemplating doing a vinyl top, except that I already have the glass in, and I don't relish the thought of taking the glass back out then back in again.
 
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RogerRamRod said:
Great looking job,
I've been contemplating doing a vinyl top, except that I already have the glass in, and I don't relish the thought of taking the glass back out then back in again.
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I'm going to do the vinyl roof and headliner before putting the glass back in. I assumed that you could do both with the glass in but it would be a pia. The vinyl roof doesn't extend under the window gaskets does it? You could tuck it in?
 
Nice job, one of the last things I need to do on my Duster is the top.
 
1MeanA said:
I'm going to do the vinyl roof and headliner before putting the glass back in. I assumed that you could do both with the glass in but it would be a pia. The vinyl roof doesn't extend under the window gaskets does it? You could tuck it in?
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Around the glass
I believe the vinyl goes under the clips though right? And I also believe you need the glass out to remove/install the trim clips. Maybe I need to give it a closer look.

Rear edge
What seems to be the most accurate way of cutting the rear edge of the vinyl along under the trim? Do the clips sit on the vinyl & the screws go through, essentially also holding the vinyl down? Or does the vinyl just go under the leading edge of the trim?

Thanks all for any suggestions
 
RogerRamRod said:
Around the glass
I believe the vinyl goes under the clips though right? And I also believe you need the glass out to remove/install the trim clips. Maybe I need to give it a closer look.

Rear edge
What seems to be the most accurate way of cutting the rear edge of the vinyl along under the trim? Do the clips sit on the vinyl & the screws go through, essentially also holding the vinyl down? Or does the vinyl just go under the leading edge of the trim?

Thanks all for any suggestions
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RRR,
According to the assembly manual for the 70/71 models, the vinyl is trimmed at the bottom of the depression that the front and rear glass is set into. So no, it does not go under the seal for the glass. Similarly, the manual says to trim the material a 1/4" below the holes in the panel for the trim. It seems that the outer edge of the vinyl should be under the edge of the trim to finish it off. I plan to place the assembled trim into place and mark the outer edge of the trim and then cut the vinyl just inside of that line to hide the edge, but still have the fasteners penetrate the vinyl. Unless I (or someone else suggests) a better method. Good luck!

Jim
 
Thank You for the reply. I wasn't thinking it went under the seal. I was referring to under the clips that hold the stainless trim around the window. I assume if it goes to the bottom of the channel, that would insinuate under the clips so the screw pierces the vinyl. I need to see if I can get the screws out/in with the glass and seal in place.
 
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